Seventeen Blues set for international duty
From the official Chelsea FC website:
The final international break of the season is upon us with Chelsea Women called up to represent their respective nations over the next two weeks.
Domestic football is on hold momentarily and the Blues capped off a busy run of matches with a convincing 3-0 victory over Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League on Sunday. Goals from Jelena Cankovic, Guro Reiten and a 50th Barclays WSL strike for Sam Kerr did the damage on the night.
Our attention turns swiftly to international exploits and the majority of the Blues contingent have been selected to represent their countries during the next fortnight. A total of 17 Chelsea players will join up with their compatriots for a series of competitive fixtures, friendlies and training camps across the globe.
Let’s take a look at where we are competing for the final international break of the season…
Lauren James, Niamh Charles and Jess Carter have joined up with the Lionesses for their upcoming fixtures against Brazil and Australia on home soil. Sadly, defender Millie Bright has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
Sarina Wiegman’s side take on South American champions Brazil in the first-ever women’s Finalissima at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. They will then face Sam Kerr’s Australia in a friendly at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium on Tuesday 11 April, with both matches kicking off at 7.45pm (UK time)
Erin Cuthbert has withdrawn from the Scotland squad for their friendly matches against Australia and Costa Rica. Scotland go up against the Matildas on Friday at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, home to AFC Wimbledon, before hosting Costa Rica at Hampden Park next Tuesday 11 April.
Guro Reiten and Maren Mjelde link up with Norway for two friendly matches starting with Spain this Thursday before facing Sweden in Gothenburg next Tuesday 11 April. Magdalena Eriksson, Zecira Musovic and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd begin with a meeting against Denmark in Malmo on Friday.
France are under new management in the shape of Herve Renard who named Eve Perisset in his first squad for friendlies against Colombia and Canada on Friday and Tuesday 11 April respectively. Jessie Fleming and Kadeisha Buchanan are part of the Canada squad for the trip across the Channel.
Ann-Katrin Berger is joined by Melanie Leupolz in the Germany squad with the latter earning her first call-up since returning from giving birth. Our German duo will navigate friendlies against the Netherlands in Sittard on Friday and Brazil in Nuremberg next Tuesday 11 April.
Sophie Ingle leads her Wales side against Northern Ireland in a friendly encounter at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, followed by a trip to Portugal next week. Meanwhile, Alsu Abdullina and Jelena Cankovic are representing Russia and Serbia respectively.
Check back for updates on how our Blues are faring during the course of the international break…
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